Caloptilia scutellariella
Encyclopedia
Caloptilia scutellariella is a moth
of the Gracillariidae
family. It is known from Ontario
and the United States
(Ohio and Michigan).
The number of generations depends on the foodplant. Larvae feeding on Scutellaria ovata produce one generation per year, while larvae feeding on Scutellaria incana produce multiple continuous generations throughout the year.
The larva
e feed on Scutellaria incana
, Scutellaria galericulata
, Scutellaria ovata
and Scutellaria versicolor. They mine
the leaves of their host plant. On Scutellaria ovata, the mine has the form of a white full-depth blotch mine. On Scutellaria incana however, the larva forms a puffy underside mine. The larvae remain inside the leaf mine throughout the entire larval stage. However, when the larva finishes feeding, it leaves the mine and spins a small cocoon in which it pupates.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Gracillariidae
Gracillariidae
Gracillariidae is an important family of insects in the order Lepidoptera and the principal family of leaf miners that includes several economic, horticultural or recently invasive pest species such as the horse-chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella....
family. It is known from Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Ohio and Michigan).
The number of generations depends on the foodplant. Larvae feeding on Scutellaria ovata produce one generation per year, while larvae feeding on Scutellaria incana produce multiple continuous generations throughout the year.
The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e feed on Scutellaria incana
Scutellaria incana
Scutellaria incana, also Downy Skullcap, is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is native to North America. It is a perennial and is primarily found in the eastern United States as well as some parts of the Midwest....
, Scutellaria galericulata
Scutellaria galericulata
Common Skullcap , also known as Marsh Skullcap or Hooded Skullcap, is a hardy perennial herb native to northern areas of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and much of North America. It is a member of the mint family...
, Scutellaria ovata
Scutellaria ovata
Scutellaria ovata, commonly known as the heart-leaf skullcap, is a member of the mint family. Its range in the United States is from Minnesota to Florida, and from Kansas to the Atlantic coast, although the plant is listed as threatened in Minnesota and was considered "probably extirpated" from...
and Scutellaria versicolor. They mine
Leaf miner
Leaf miner is a term used to describe the larvae of many different species of insect which live in and eat the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths , sawflies and flies , though some beetles and wasps also exhibit this behavior.Like Woodboring beetles, leaf...
the leaves of their host plant. On Scutellaria ovata, the mine has the form of a white full-depth blotch mine. On Scutellaria incana however, the larva forms a puffy underside mine. The larvae remain inside the leaf mine throughout the entire larval stage. However, when the larva finishes feeding, it leaves the mine and spins a small cocoon in which it pupates.